Car Keys For Aging Parents and Loved Ones

Caregivers of loved ones who are aging sometimes find themselves facing difficult decisions. If an aging parent or loved one is driving dangerously, it may be time to take away the keys to their car.

Many vehicles come with a driver setting set to a specific key. This feature is especially useful if you are sharing the vehicle with multiple people.

Transponder Keys

Transponder keys are standard in all modern vehicles. They add an additional layer of security that flat metal keys can't. These are tiny microchips embedded in your key. They send an alert to an immobilizer mechanism on the car, allowing it only to start if a valid keys is within range. This type of technology has drastically reduced car theft rates around the globe.

It's not 100% secure. Professional thieves have discovered ways to spoof these signals while still hotwiring the vehicle. They also reuse keys to make their own transponder. Even if your vehicle has a transponder key, it's worth getting an extra.

A reputable locksmith can create keys for you at a fraction of the cost of a Car Seat Key dealership. They'll start by examining your key and determining the best copying and programming methods. The new key can be programmed to work with your vehicle.

A reputable locksmith should also be able to help you with non-transponder keys or "flat" keys. These keys connect to your car through mechanical means and not using electronic technology. These keys are easy for children to use which makes them less secure. Anyone with a key cutter can also copy keys.

Smart Keys

Many modern vehicles are equipped with smart keys, which is a kind of key fob that performs the functions of a standard remote, but it also has additional features. Smart keys can unlock and lock your vehicle from a distance, without pressing any buttons. They can also be used to start your engine. These features function regardless of whether the key is in your purse or pocket.

Smart keys are extremely secure. The signals they broadcast are encrypted, which means that hackers can't use them to steal your car. Furthermore, a computer in your vehicle confirms the rolling code projected by the smart keys before it begins the engine.

The technology is still being developed and you might encounter some glitches in the system. If your key and phone are too close, the normal functioning signals of your phone could interfere with any signal sent by your smart key.

Some smart keys include a small color touchscreen. For example, BMW developed the Display Key with a screen which allows the user to perform a variety of tasks from the key fob, including locking, unlocking, and even starting. The key will also inform the owner that its battery is insufficient and offer to order the new key from your dealer.

Keyless Entry

If you do not intend to go as far as a transponder, or smart key, you can lock and unlock your car by pressing the button. These systems make use of radio waves, also known as RF to signal an internal receiver within the vehicle. Based on the system, the signal may also turn on the engine of the vehicle and also deactivate the alarm.

Keyless entry can eliminate the need to hide spare keys, which are an important security risk for thieves. It also prevents you from having to worry about losing or misplacing the car key that could happen to anyone at any time. But you should still make sure to change the code regularly to ensure your security.

The way that keyless entry works is that you press the button on your app or physical key fob to send an audio signal of 315 Megaherz. The signal is encrypted and scrambled before being released, so that even if hackers intercept it then they won't have the ability to gain access to your car.

Some keyless entry systems feature active engine starting, which means that the car will start and start even if the key isn't in range. This safety feature is designed to keep your car from running out on gas and also to stop harmful fumes from leaking into the interior.

Remote Start

Remote start systems give you convenience and peace of mind whether the car is parked on the street or in your driveway. By pressing a button on your key fob or the command "start" from an app that the system sends the signal to the RES control module, which will start up and warm up your engine.

The system can also be used to control heated or cooled seats, or to open and close windows. Some systems are more versatile and come with auxiliary channels which can be used to control items like power-assisted steering, automatic climate control, and rear defrost.

The positive side is that the majority of seats made after 1995 have a transponder embedded in the key. Therefore, the majority of newer models can be used with remote-start systems. Some older seat alhambra key models require keys with an ordinary transponder, and will not work with remote start systems.

Many parents have had the experience when they reach back into the car seat key fob replacement of their child, but can't manage to press the release button that is red. NAMRA has developed an answer to this problem. It helps you unbuckle your child's seat even if you're having difficulties pressing the buckle using your thumb.